Community SpeedWatch can be set up in any village, small town, or urban area, governed by a twenty, thirty or forty mph speed limit. Community SpeedWatch is a partnership between the Community, the Police and Local Authorities.

It is now a year on from re-establishing SpeedWatch in Chilcompton, part of the Mendip SpeedWatch Group in Somerset. The active and committed team of police volunteers carry out weekly sessions within the village at one of eleven police approved sites. There are always at least two volunteers working together; it is not acceptable or feasible for one person to carry out sessions alone, due to Health and Safety considerations.

It has been proven in this short time that there has been a drop in vehicle numbers exceeding the speed limit. Whilst SpeedWatch activity is largely perceived to be a preventative measure, the data collected is used by the police as intelligence when deciding where to site their Speed Enforcement Units.

From August 2017 up to the end of April 2018, the total number of vehicles checked at our sessions was 10,035 with 1.1% of drivers exceeding the threshold, well below the average within Mendip.

Many residents have noticed the difference these village sessions have made and ask what is involved and how to become a volunteer.

As a volunteer, you will be fully supported by the police, should anyone approach to ask what you are doing, as well as wearing the hi viz jacket supplied, you will have a letter of authority from Avon and Somerset Police stating you are a police volunteer for SpeedWatch, along with a copy of the insurance.

The first point of contact is the village Community SpeedWatch Co-ordinator, whose email address is: [email protected]

A form for completion of basic details of the enquirer, along with a simple test of knowledge of SpeedWatch, is sent for completion and forwarding for checking by the police and all being well, training follows.

Community SpeedWatch changes people’s attitude to speeding. By making a small, regular commitment to the scheme helping to monitor speeds, you are effective in ensuring speed limits are adhered to.

SpeedWatch gives local people, who are willing to become trained police volunteers, the ability to actively get involved in road safety.

Please help to continue keeping the roads and people in this village safer by volunteering with SpeedWatch.

The message for those driving vehicles is please, slow down, think of others and help us all to be safer on the roads.

Judith Stanford, Community Speedwatch Co-ordinator